Ireland and Wales will do battle this weekend in an uncapped, 6 Nations warm-up fixture at Energia Park, Donnybrook at 1pm on Sunday, 20th January
Irish Coach Adam Griggs has named eight new faces have been named in a large squad for the game. Linda Djougang, Anne Marie O’Hora, Hannah O’Connor and Claire Boles are named in the forwards, while Kathryn Dane, Claire Keohane, Ailbhe Dowling and Enya Breen are named among the backs.
Griggs said "We have had two very productive training camps since Christmas and the players have been working hard to make sure we carry on from the good performance we had in our last autumn international against England in Twickenham.
"While we didn’t get the result we were after in that game the players took a big step in terms of their development and now have a feel for what is required at international level.
"It’s great to get a warm up fixture for the Six Nations of this quality where we will be able to try out some new combinations and really test ourselves in what we have been doing in camp together.
"We are missing some key players who are unavailable to us due to injury which is unfortunate and not ideal at the start of the Six Nations, but it is a chance to give some very talented new faces an opportunity to put their hands up and show us they can compete at international level."
Ireland Women get their Six Nations campaign underway against England in Energia Park on Friday 2nd of February
Wales have not named a specific squad but have a youthful squad for the upcoming 6 Nations to choose from.
The 34-strong squad includes just two players that weren't included in the recent three-Test autumn series - 48-times capped pivot Elinor Snowshill and uncapped 18-year-old RGC hooker Molly Kelly.
In addition to Kelly, who has progressed through the RGC U18 pathway, there are five other uncapped players in the squad - RGC prop Brea Leung and full back Bethan Davies, Ospreys half back Niamh Terrry and Scarlets duo Caitlin Lewis (wing) and Alex Callender (flanker). Alex, Molly and Niamh are all 18, with Caitlin having just turned 19.
Ireland Squad
Claire Boles (Railway Union/ Ulster)*
Enya Breen (UL Bohemian/ Munster) *
Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/ Leinster)
Anna Caplice (Richmond)
Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/ Ulster) *
Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo/IQ Rugby)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/ Leinster) *
Ailbhe Dowling (Old Belvedere/ Leinster) *
Laura Feely (Galwegians/ Connacht)
Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/ Connacht)
Nichola Fryday (Galwegians/ Connacht)
Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
Emma Hooban (St Mary’s College/ Leinster)
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/ Leinster)
Claire Keohane (Railway Union/ Munster) *
Leah Lyons (Harlequins)
Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/ Leinster)
Claire McLaughlin (Old Belvedere / Ulster)
Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/ Connacht)
Claire Molloy (Wasps)
Ellen Murphy (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock/ Leinster) *
Anne Marie O’Hora ( Galwegians/ Connacht)*
Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
Juliet Short (Railway Union/ Leinster)
Megan Williams (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
*Uncapped player at this level